Simplification at it's finest!

I'm a HUGE fan of the iHouse (shown above, Clayton Homes experiment with modern modular homes)...or I WAS a fan.

Unfortunately, my dream of owning and living in one of these super-cool, simple yet modern homes won't come to fruition because Clayton Homes quit manufacturing them.  Figures.
(I even went to Maryville, TN a few years ago where they made these cool houses to see the display model for myself! So cool!!)

So anyhow...my newest idea on the subject is along the lines of the recent trend of "Tiny Houses"...but in more of a re-purposed sort of way.  The whole idea being that of simplify, Simplify, SIMPLIFY!  Love the idea of living small.  Who needs tons of stuff anyway?

Railroad Shipping Containers
 

I spend a lot of time these days looking at railroad shipping containers seeing as I work as a conductor for the Norfolk Southern Railroad.  So the concept of living in one or more of these shipping containers is WAY COOL to me! 

Container Homes














Shown above is just one sample of the sweetness of the design possibilities of a shipping container home.

One day...maybe I can make this happen. Downsize into a container less that 200 square feet?  We shall see!!

First things first...gotta convince Chris that this is really a great idea.  I think that so long as there are modern conveniences I stand a chance.  She's already told me a composting toilet was out of the question.  hmmm, well I might can still work in an outdoor shower though. 

Regardless, adventure awaits.  Always!

This makes me smile!

Whenever I get a hankering to go outside and can't for whatever reason...weather, schedule, whatever other crap limitations....I go browsing around youtube for cool outdoor videos to fill the void.

I came across this one some time ago.
LOVE Lily!!! Super cool dog doing super fun stuff! And goodNESS that mountain bike trail looks FAB-TASTIC too!

You go Lily!

Sidebar here...I'm always looking for cool dog gear for my dogs too and for-the-life-of-me couldn't find the vest that Lily is seen wearing throughout this video until TODAY!
It's made my Ruffwear and is the Web Master version. Cost $59.95 and is actually designed to help you lift your dog over obstacles. Might be just the ticket for our little guy Dodi who loves to swim but hates the bulk of a pfd.

Cheers for now. And ENJOY!

Sounds that shouldn't be heard coming from your dryer...

I refuse to buy one of those new, fancy, colorful, front load, computerized washer and dryers. For the very reason of yet another appliance adventure that ensued today. 

If you've ever heard some metal on metal clicking, chirping, screeching or other such sounds coming from your clothes dryer...you know when something's not quite right with it.

The older model dryers are very simple mechanical inventions with replaceable parts, easy to understand and easy to troubleshoot.  (Which is why I love older appliances! They're fixable when they break.  And yes, they will break.)

The sound I heard today made me fly like a bird to shut it off as it sounded like something was stuck in the exhaust fan. Like something metal was be dragged around inside. (not good).  Having had some experiences in the past with this dryer before...I suspected a hair pin was stuck in something it shouldn't be stuck in.

Yep, sure enough!  Mystery solved...a rats nest of bobby pins were scattered throughout the exhaust fan chamber and venting system.  Ever wonder where all those bobby pins are going?  Ever wonder why you never seem to have enough to pin your hair back when you need them. I have a suggestion.  Check your dryers venting system.  Or better yet, check your pockets before you wash the clothes. 

Needless to say, we have a new rule in our house.  Check your pockets or the dryer is going to be destroyed.  Gotta love appliance adventures.  And the good that came out of all this? Our dryer has a much better flow of air now that things are all cleaned out.

Stay tuned for more adventures. I can feel them on the horizon!

Let yourself BE you!

I don't know about you...but I've grown really tired of being bombarded with "what I want", "what I need", "what's missing in my life", "what I can't live without", "what will make me truly happy" and on and on and on goes the bullshit that the advertisers feed us on a daily basis!

The truth is....I don't need any of this crap. It's just stuff. And with stuff comes the need to organize it, store it, worry about losing it, cleaning it and so forth. I really don't want to spend my precious time on more stuff. 

In fact, thanks to the Universe I already have all I need...every day.  No more stuff.

And this goes for who I am too! Seems as if everything outside of myself is generally geared towards trying to change me into something different.  No need. I am all that I am.  And as difficult and challenging as it is sometimes to just be true to ourselves...it's where peace lies.  Peace in knowing that I am perfect just the way I am.  And so are you.

That being said...absorb all that 2016 holds for you fully.  It's gonna be a grand year!!

There it IS!! And it was obvious that nearly everyone in the room saw it too!

I used to love to sit and watch my sister create various baked goods in the kitchen when I was young. I didn't understand it at the time...but I now know that it was because what I was really watching was her creative process and her joy and passion SHE experienced throughout that process. And...nine times out of ten the finished product, be it cookies or a cake, or pastry, turned out amazing...and...I got to taste test (an added bonus of course).

Over my years I have learned to spot this passion in others too. And without fail...I'm drawn to it.

Here's a few examples:
Musicians in jam sessions...playing their hearts out, ad libbing with the other musicians there and creating a sound that would never be heard like this again. 

Painters caught up in the creative process, when you look into their eyes there is such a concentration, such a focus....that you can hardly wait to see the strokes they add to their painting and what colors they'll use and watch attentively for what will emerge.

Teachers who are passionate about their subject. They have such a way of engaging their students and passing on that same passion and in turn drawing out the best in their students. Challenging them to become better at whatever the subject may be...be it mechanics, music, education, athletics, etc.
And on and on I could go.

Goodness...I know I'm not doing what I've seen of these moments in people any justice in trying to describe it here. But I saw it again Tuesday night.

OH did I see it!!!!!

On Tuesday night, the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors aired on tv.  The Kennedy Center selects five honorees each year to receive this prestigious award for their lifetime artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the 38th annual national celebration of the arts were: singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson.

The moment however that I've been referring to here throughout this post was during the presentation for Carole King.  It will help to understand  (reference http://www.caroleking.com/bio) that Carole King and her husband at the time Gerry Goffin (with input from Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler) wrote the song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" in the late 60's and was immortalized by Aretha Franklin.

It is said by Joe Marshalla that the greatest gift you can give to another human being is "generating such a safe place around your being that that person can be free to be who it is they actually are in that moment."

Exactly what happened next!!!!  

Watch for yourself. 
Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Carole King - Kennedy Center Honors 2015

So who do you suppose was introduced to come on stage and sing this incredibly moving song? You guess it...none other than Aretha Franklin. The performance that followed by Aretha was electrifying! But deeper than the performance and plain as day...was the response that Caroline had as Aretha performed. Caroline completely embraced who Aretha was in that moment...and set her free to just BE in that moment...and so did seemingly everyone else in the auditorium. It was beautiful!! To watch Caroline in her complete and utter joy watching Aretha so gifted and so amazingly talented as a singer... and clearly a seasoned veteran on the stage...and of course Aretha brought the house down...first by sitting at the piano and playing along while she belted out "A Natural Woman" followed by her standing and facing everyone in the room and giving us a glimpse of a passion for singing and performing like no other!  Thank you Aretha Franklin, for sharing your gift with us!

Want to see this for yourself?  Click here. 
Be prepared to be moved!

Do you see it too?

A little New Years reflection via Calvin and Hobbes

From left to right it's reads like this:

Calvin: It's a new year...a new beginning! New possibilities!
Calvin: This snowman represents the spirit of the new year.
Calvin: Looking ahead he strides forward with confidence and determination!
Calvin: He challenges! He imagines! He invents! He calls forth the best qualities of human drive and ingenuity.
Hobbes: Very inspiring.
Calvin: Thank you.
Hobbes: And over here is the REAL world?
Calvin: Right. This is why we're always glad when the old year is over.

Happy New year everyone!!
May your 2016 be full of imagination!

When our hearing goes to sh*t.

It's happening. Has been for some time now. Like these reindeer, I can't hear for sh*t.  And yep...this makes for some good belly laughing around our house. The repetitious ..."what?" and the occasional...confusion such as "did you say, 'I have a big gash on my blouse?'  No, I said, "will you please take the trash out of the house."

Yesterday I chuckled even more when ordering through a drive-thru speaker and the cashier clearly wasn't hearing what I was requesting and I turned to Chris sitting next to me and seriously asked, "Am I mumbling?" She confirmed for me, "no" and then after a bunch of clarification the cashier got our order right. So maybe it's not just me with this hearing thing?

Anyway...here's to a happy healthy and good hearing Christmas holiday season!